(Reuters) – The Leopard Trek team led the peloton across the finish line on a neutralized stage four of the Giro d’Italia Tuesday as the race paid homage to Belgian Wouter Weylandt, who died in a crash the previous day.

LIVORNO, Italy (AP) — The teammates of Wouter Weylandt crossed the finish line side by side and with their arms linked at the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday, completing a fourth stage honoring the Leopard-Trek cyclist who died in a high-speed crash.

Weylandt’s close friend and training partner Tyler Farrar, who rides for Garmin-Cervelo, was invited to join the Leopard-Trek cyclists for the final part of the stage and was in tears as they rode over the line in unison. Farrar said earlier Tuesday he would pull out of the race after the stage.

“I think it has taken something out of all of us,” teammate Davide Vigano said. “He was only 26 and his loss has left a big hole inside all of us.”

The 26-year-old Weylandt died on Monday after falling during a descent, the first fatality in the Italian race in 25 years.

As a result, the fourth stage became a ceremonial ride with no points on offer, and teams took turns riding up front in 10-kilometer intervals. Read more from Universal Sports…

“Wouter Weylandt’s team will stay in Giro after tragedy
By AP

MILAN (AP) — The teammates of Wouter Weylandt crossed the finish line side by side and with arms linked at the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday, honoring the cyclist who died in a crash a day earlier.

The teams observed a minute’s silence at the start of the fourth stage and wore black ribbons on a day in which no points were awarded.

Instead, the field rode together with each team taking the lead at intervals of about six miles. With less than to miles to go, overall leader David Millar waved Weylandt’s Leopard-Trek team to the front to reach the line first.

Weylandt, a 26-year-old Belgian, died Monday after falling on a descent about 12 miles from the finish of the third stage.

Tyler Farrar, Weylandt’s close friend and training partner, rides for Garmin-Cervelo but was invited to join the Leopard-Trek cyclists for the final part of the stage. He was in tears as the riders hit the line in unison. Farrar had said he would pull out of the race after the stage.”Read more from USA Today…

Thien Dinh gained most his cycling knowledge the old fashioned way, by immersing himself in the sport. From 2007 to early 2013, Thien served as RoadBikeReview Site Manager, riding daily while putting various cycling products through its paces. A native of California, Thien also enjoys tinkering with photography and discovering new music.

Related Articles

NOTE: There are two ways to comment on our articles: Facebook or Wordpress. Facebook uses your real name and can be posted on your wall while Wordpress uses our login system. Feel free to use either one.